We gave Max his birthday present this morning, as well as a breakfast totally devoid of nutrition. I figure he's entitled to that at least one day a year.

When he was walking out the door, so positive and cheerful, so grateful for his gift,I couldn't help but smile and think about what a blessing this child has been.

I remember what I was doing 17 years ago today. Of course, every mother can remember the details of giving birth. What amazes me is how clearly I can remember so much of it, even though I didn't even start going into labor until I was watching "Sports Plus" so late on a freezing Sunday December night.

My husband has always referred to Max as our "post transplant baby." Through sheer bad luck, my husband was saddled with kidney disease more than 25 years ago. After medical opinions, and second opinions and thirds, Barry endured dialysis and then ultimately underwent a kidney transplant, with the organ donated from his mother.

It's hard to write a thank you note for that gift.

When Barry got sick, we already, thankfully, had one healthy son. I'd read enough about dialysis and fertility to think Alex was destined to be an only child. But I was wrong. A few years after Barry's transplant, when it appeared this kidney could be a keeper for a good while, we tried again.

Of course every baby is a blessing and a miracle. But Max signified so much more. He was our affirmation and our hope.

That December night before Max was born, I woke Barry from a dead sleep. He ran over two curbs on the way to St. Luke's, in the aftermath of an ice storm. It was the stuff episodes of "I Love Lucy" are made of. When we arrived at the emergency room entrance I wasn't the only emergency. Our car was smoking and we had two flat tires. We're the only expectant family I knew who had their car towed from the delivery room.

Despite those auspicious beginnings, Max's birth was textbook.

Since then, he has never let us down. From that day 17 years ago, it's been a privilege to raise him. While I can't take credit for any of it, he has an ease with people and an openess that's completely joyful. His sensitivity and sense of humor have added so much to my life, not just today, but every day.

It may be Max's birthday, but I'm the one with the present.